Real discuss: your hairbrush might be overdue for a cleansing. Between lifeless pores and skin cells, oils, and leftover product, it’s a breeding floor for grime that may mess along with your scalp. However how usually must you be cleansing it? Spoiler alert: extra usually than you assume. Right here’s every part it’s essential to know to maintain your brush—and your hair—contemporary and clear, together with when it’s time to commerce your trusty brush in for a more recent mannequin.
How usually to scrub your hairbrush
As a common rule, you need to clear your hairbrush each one to 2 weeks, but it surely actually relies on a couple of issues, says Lindsey Marie Zubritsky, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist primarily based in Pittsburg, PA.
Clear your hairbrush extra usually if:
- You employ heavy styling merchandise
- You could have lengthy hair
- You cope with dandruff or an oily scalp
Easy methods to clear your hairbrush
The strategy for cleansing a hairbrush relies on the sort, however irrespective of the comb, all the time begin by pulling out the hair with tweezers, scissors, or simply your arms, Dr. Zubritsky says.
Specialists In This Article
- Lindsay Zubritsky, MD, Dermatologist , Lindsay Zubritsky, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical dermatology at Premier Dermatology and Pores and skin Most cancers Heart in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
When you have a brush with artificial plastic bristles (that are best to scrub, BTW), observe these steps, per Dr. Zubritsky:
- Put some shampoo, dish cleaning soap, or physique wash in a big bowl of water and soak your brush for quarter-hour
- Rinse totally afterwards, shake or squeeze the comb to take away extra water, after which enable to air dry
- For additional cleansing, you may spray the comb with isopropyl alcohol for disinfecting.
When you have a brush with pure bristles and/or wood handles, it’s essential to deal with them with somewhat extra care. After eradicating all of the hair from the bristles, observe these steps, per Dr. Zubritsky:
- Add a delicate, gentle shampoo or cleaning soap to a big bowl of water.
- Solely dip the bristles within the water (retaining the wood handles dry).
- Lather up the bristles (both along with your arms or a toothbrush). You actually need to give these pure bristles a radical scrub since they’ve extra nooks and crannies.
- Soak for15 minutes (once more, retaining wood handles dry).
- Rinse totally afterwards, shake or squeeze the comb to take away extra water, after which enable to air dry.
What occurs if I do not clear my hairbrush?
For those who’ve ever let a bunch of hair accumulate in your brush, you most likely seen it doesn’t work as properly. However that’s not the one drawback. A grimy hairbrush may have penalties to your scalp.
1. It might clog hair follicles
Hairbrushes usually gather lifeless pores and skin cells, oils, and product buildup, Dr. Zubritsky says. This mixture can clog pores and hurt your scalp, resulting in points like scalp acne or folliculitis (i.e., when your hair follicles are contaminated or infected), she says.
2. It might result in dandruff
“Your hairbrush is a breeding floor for micro organism and fungus, together with Malassezia (a yeast recognized to set off dandruff),” Dr. Zubritsky says. Even if you happen to’re utilizing anti-dandruff shampoo, yeast can nonetheless construct up in your brush, and each time you employ it, you’re principally placing that gunk proper again in your scalp, she says.
3. It might irritate or injury your scalp
“Nothing good comes from utilizing a grimy hairbrush, particularly when you’ve got a delicate scalp,” Dr. Zubritsky says. “Dust, particles, micro organism, previous product, and lifeless pores and skin cells might be transferred again to you scalp by your brush, resulting in irritation and sensitivity points.”
When to switch your hairbrush
We all know–it may be exhausting to let go of your go-to hairbrush. However the well being of your scalp relies on it. Typically, it’s a good suggestion to switch your brush each six months. Listed below are some indicators that your brush wants an improve, per Dr. Zubrtisky:
- The bristles or handles are broken, bent, cracked, or lacking
- Your brush is not working as properly (when your brush isn’t working proper, it creates extra friction and traction in your scalp and hair, which might result in injury)
- Your brush has a persistent odor (regardless of common cleansing)
- Your hair seems extra oily or greasy
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